motife
09-06-2006, 05:07 PM
WEDNESDAY, Sept. 6, 2006, 4:12 p.m.
Depth in the offensive line
The Packers kept nine offensive linemen, including four rookies and two second-year players with virtually no experience. And one of those two second-year players, Junius Coston, has been ruled out of Sunday's game with a knee injury. Coston is listed as their first backup at right guard and right tackle.
So what happens if the Packers suffer an injury during the game?
Second-round draft pick Daryn Colledge worked at left tackle and left guard this summer and is listed as the top reserve at both positions. Second-year man Chris White is the backup center.
At right guard, Tony Palmer, who just joined the team this week, is listed behind Coston on the depth chart. And Colledge is listed as the third right tackle behind Coston.
Obviously, if the Packers lose an offensive lineman Sunday, especially on the right side, it could lead to disaster.
WEDNESDAY, Sept. 6, 2006, 3:51 p.m.
Favre not looking to leave
In the past, Brett Favre insisted that he'd never play anywhere else. So by hedging in his interview with Bob Costas he departed from the position that he had always taken in the past.
But Favre said at his press conference Wednesday that he was asked the question in the context of what he'd do if he still wanted to play and the Packers no longer wanted him. "I'm 99.9% sure that won't happen," he said.
In other words, Favre doesn't expect to get thrown out of the building like his buddy Steve McNair in Tennessee.
WEDNESDAY, Sept. 6, 2006, 3:41 p.m.
Kickoff returns
It's hard to quarrel with the Packers' decision to cut Najeh Davenport. He couldn't stay healthy and he didn't run well this summer. But if the Packers' No. 1 kick returner is Noah Herron maybe they should have taken a closer look at Davenport in that role this summer.
Again, Davenport would have been a risk considering his injury history. But he was a load when he got a head of steam going. It took the former coaching staff too long to discover that Davenport was their best option as a kick returner, but when they finally did in his second season, Davenport averaged 31.6 yards on 16 returns.
This summer, the new staff gave Davenport the opportunity to return only one kickoff. In Herron, the Packers figure to have one of the most pedestrian return men in the league.
It might be one of those seasons where touchbacks will be worth cheering.
WEDNESDAY, Sept. 6, 2006, 3:31 p.m.
The depth chart
The Packers released their depth chart for the opener and usually it reflects a team's substitution plans.
Some of the more interesting listings included:
1) Kenderick Allen is listed as the starting defensive tackle opposite Ryan Pickett.
2) Noah Herron is listed as the No. 2 running back behind Ahman Green and ahead of Samkon Gado.
3) Jason Hunter is listed as the first backup at defensive right end, but also the third weak-side linebacker behind A.J. Hawk and Ben Taylor. Unless I missed it, Hunter never practiced at linebacker during training camp.
4) Charles Woodson is listed as the No. 1 punt returner ahead of Greg Jennings.
5) Herron is listed as the No. 1 kickoff return man. Gado is listed No. 2.
WEDNESDAY, Sept. 6, 2006, 12:11 p.m.
So much hoopla over nothing
Not many players have spent less time in the Packers' camp and received more fanfare than wide receiver Carlton Brewster. He was with the Packers for 10 days and was the subject of feature stories and too much speculation about his chances of making the roster, all because of two catches with the scout team right after he arrived.
Brewster stood 5-foot-11 and there was a play during 7-on-7 in the final practice before the final exhibition game where his lack of height left Aaron Rodgers with a small window and resulted in an incomplete pass. That has been one of the Packers' objectives since last season: Move beyond the days of playing midgets at wide receiver.
Yes, Greg Jennings also stands 5-11. But he plays big. Brewster didn't. He seemed to short-arm too many balls. What was suprising was that the Packers gave Brewster as much playing time as they did against Tennessee. If they were going to keep only four wide receivers on the active roster, they'd have been better off giving those snaps to Chris Francies, who was in their practice squad plans.
WEDNESDAY, Sept. 6, 2006, 11:58 a.m.
The Packers' wide receivers
On May 22, following the Green Bay Packers’ second minicamp, my column that appeared on Packer Insider was titled “Young receivers show promise, raise competition level.â€Â
In the column, I made the following points:
1) “… And that's why one of the more interesting plots this summer might be the battle for the six wide receiver spots that coach Mike McCarthy has said will be available.â€Â
2) “… again, based on the minicamps, the competition might be fiercer than you'd expect from a lot of mostly street and undrafted free agents.â€Â
3) “… street free agent Ruvell Martin and undrafted free agents Leo Bookman, Calvin Russell and Chris Francies might at least create a competitive situation.â€Â
4) “… it's an intriguing group, considering their relatively humble backgrounds, and just one small area where the Packers could take some baby steps forward.â€Â
Shortly after the column appeared, I also remember getting a snide email from a reader informing me that he could care less about players who weren’t going to make the team and that he wanted to know more about the progress of Robert Ferguson, Rod Gardner and Marc Boerigter.
My intent here isn’t to tell you I told you so or to belittle the reader. In the end, Bookman never caught a pass in camp and never made a serious bid for a roster spot. All he had was speed. And the Packers actually have taken more than a few “baby steps†forward at wide receiver.
The addition of Greg Jennings is a big improvement. I mentioned Jennings in that column as being a lock to make the roster, but never expected him to look as good as he did in training camp. He’s not Randy Moss. He might never get a whole lot better. But he could have a long and productive career if he stays healthy and maintains his speed.
In fact, if there’s any reason to be more optimistic now about the Packers than a month ago, it’s because of Jennings. Assuming that how he performed this summer will carry over to the regular season, Jennings gives the Packers two good receivers. Give Brett Favre a running game and two good receivers – Donald Driver is the other -- and he should be better than a year ago, maybe much better.
As for the other young receivers, Martin made the roster. And Francies and Russell were added to the practice squad.
Does that mean the Packers have taken some “baby steps†forward with them?
Martin could be an improvement over Antonio Chatman. He’s a bigger target and looks to be more reliable, although he isn’t as quick or as fast. But, to a degree, Martin made the roster by default. Nobody probably tried harder in camp. He stayed healthy. And he earned the confidence of Favre and backup quarterback Aaron Rodgers. But all the other receivers basically cut themselves.
Above all, what the competition showed was that there wasn’t much difference between those three free agents with no NFL experience and the two veterans, Gardner and Boerigter. In turn, there wasn’t much difference between Gardner and Robert Ferguson or Martin and Ferguson, for that matter.
So what does that tell you about the Packers’ depth at wide receiver in an era when the third player there, in particular, gets an abundance of playing time?
Depth in the offensive line
The Packers kept nine offensive linemen, including four rookies and two second-year players with virtually no experience. And one of those two second-year players, Junius Coston, has been ruled out of Sunday's game with a knee injury. Coston is listed as their first backup at right guard and right tackle.
So what happens if the Packers suffer an injury during the game?
Second-round draft pick Daryn Colledge worked at left tackle and left guard this summer and is listed as the top reserve at both positions. Second-year man Chris White is the backup center.
At right guard, Tony Palmer, who just joined the team this week, is listed behind Coston on the depth chart. And Colledge is listed as the third right tackle behind Coston.
Obviously, if the Packers lose an offensive lineman Sunday, especially on the right side, it could lead to disaster.
WEDNESDAY, Sept. 6, 2006, 3:51 p.m.
Favre not looking to leave
In the past, Brett Favre insisted that he'd never play anywhere else. So by hedging in his interview with Bob Costas he departed from the position that he had always taken in the past.
But Favre said at his press conference Wednesday that he was asked the question in the context of what he'd do if he still wanted to play and the Packers no longer wanted him. "I'm 99.9% sure that won't happen," he said.
In other words, Favre doesn't expect to get thrown out of the building like his buddy Steve McNair in Tennessee.
WEDNESDAY, Sept. 6, 2006, 3:41 p.m.
Kickoff returns
It's hard to quarrel with the Packers' decision to cut Najeh Davenport. He couldn't stay healthy and he didn't run well this summer. But if the Packers' No. 1 kick returner is Noah Herron maybe they should have taken a closer look at Davenport in that role this summer.
Again, Davenport would have been a risk considering his injury history. But he was a load when he got a head of steam going. It took the former coaching staff too long to discover that Davenport was their best option as a kick returner, but when they finally did in his second season, Davenport averaged 31.6 yards on 16 returns.
This summer, the new staff gave Davenport the opportunity to return only one kickoff. In Herron, the Packers figure to have one of the most pedestrian return men in the league.
It might be one of those seasons where touchbacks will be worth cheering.
WEDNESDAY, Sept. 6, 2006, 3:31 p.m.
The depth chart
The Packers released their depth chart for the opener and usually it reflects a team's substitution plans.
Some of the more interesting listings included:
1) Kenderick Allen is listed as the starting defensive tackle opposite Ryan Pickett.
2) Noah Herron is listed as the No. 2 running back behind Ahman Green and ahead of Samkon Gado.
3) Jason Hunter is listed as the first backup at defensive right end, but also the third weak-side linebacker behind A.J. Hawk and Ben Taylor. Unless I missed it, Hunter never practiced at linebacker during training camp.
4) Charles Woodson is listed as the No. 1 punt returner ahead of Greg Jennings.
5) Herron is listed as the No. 1 kickoff return man. Gado is listed No. 2.
WEDNESDAY, Sept. 6, 2006, 12:11 p.m.
So much hoopla over nothing
Not many players have spent less time in the Packers' camp and received more fanfare than wide receiver Carlton Brewster. He was with the Packers for 10 days and was the subject of feature stories and too much speculation about his chances of making the roster, all because of two catches with the scout team right after he arrived.
Brewster stood 5-foot-11 and there was a play during 7-on-7 in the final practice before the final exhibition game where his lack of height left Aaron Rodgers with a small window and resulted in an incomplete pass. That has been one of the Packers' objectives since last season: Move beyond the days of playing midgets at wide receiver.
Yes, Greg Jennings also stands 5-11. But he plays big. Brewster didn't. He seemed to short-arm too many balls. What was suprising was that the Packers gave Brewster as much playing time as they did against Tennessee. If they were going to keep only four wide receivers on the active roster, they'd have been better off giving those snaps to Chris Francies, who was in their practice squad plans.
WEDNESDAY, Sept. 6, 2006, 11:58 a.m.
The Packers' wide receivers
On May 22, following the Green Bay Packers’ second minicamp, my column that appeared on Packer Insider was titled “Young receivers show promise, raise competition level.â€Â
In the column, I made the following points:
1) “… And that's why one of the more interesting plots this summer might be the battle for the six wide receiver spots that coach Mike McCarthy has said will be available.â€Â
2) “… again, based on the minicamps, the competition might be fiercer than you'd expect from a lot of mostly street and undrafted free agents.â€Â
3) “… street free agent Ruvell Martin and undrafted free agents Leo Bookman, Calvin Russell and Chris Francies might at least create a competitive situation.â€Â
4) “… it's an intriguing group, considering their relatively humble backgrounds, and just one small area where the Packers could take some baby steps forward.â€Â
Shortly after the column appeared, I also remember getting a snide email from a reader informing me that he could care less about players who weren’t going to make the team and that he wanted to know more about the progress of Robert Ferguson, Rod Gardner and Marc Boerigter.
My intent here isn’t to tell you I told you so or to belittle the reader. In the end, Bookman never caught a pass in camp and never made a serious bid for a roster spot. All he had was speed. And the Packers actually have taken more than a few “baby steps†forward at wide receiver.
The addition of Greg Jennings is a big improvement. I mentioned Jennings in that column as being a lock to make the roster, but never expected him to look as good as he did in training camp. He’s not Randy Moss. He might never get a whole lot better. But he could have a long and productive career if he stays healthy and maintains his speed.
In fact, if there’s any reason to be more optimistic now about the Packers than a month ago, it’s because of Jennings. Assuming that how he performed this summer will carry over to the regular season, Jennings gives the Packers two good receivers. Give Brett Favre a running game and two good receivers – Donald Driver is the other -- and he should be better than a year ago, maybe much better.
As for the other young receivers, Martin made the roster. And Francies and Russell were added to the practice squad.
Does that mean the Packers have taken some “baby steps†forward with them?
Martin could be an improvement over Antonio Chatman. He’s a bigger target and looks to be more reliable, although he isn’t as quick or as fast. But, to a degree, Martin made the roster by default. Nobody probably tried harder in camp. He stayed healthy. And he earned the confidence of Favre and backup quarterback Aaron Rodgers. But all the other receivers basically cut themselves.
Above all, what the competition showed was that there wasn’t much difference between those three free agents with no NFL experience and the two veterans, Gardner and Boerigter. In turn, there wasn’t much difference between Gardner and Robert Ferguson or Martin and Ferguson, for that matter.
So what does that tell you about the Packers’ depth at wide receiver in an era when the third player there, in particular, gets an abundance of playing time?